ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads End Regular Season with One-Goal Victory

Published on April 1, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


(Boise, ID) - Four different players notched goals, Bryan Hince made 30 saves, and the Idaho Steelheads held off a late Stockton rally for a 4-3 victory in the final game of the regular season.

Idaho (31-32-9, 71 points) finished the regular season with 41 one-goal games, including ten of its last twelve contests.

Marty Flichel and Aaron Lewicki teamed up to give Idaho an early lead. Flichel's cross-ice pass from the left wall of the neutral zone hit Lewicki in stride and Lewicki carried the puck into the right circle, lifting the puck over Olivier Roy at the 7:40 mark. It was Lewicki's 19th goal of the season, ten with Idaho since being acquired by Reading. Idaho extended its lead to two goals when Jacob Cepis tucked home a back-hander on the rebound. Flichel's blast from the top of the circles on the power play was saved by Roy but Cepis controlled the rebound, patiently waiting for Roy to give him an opening, before sliding the puck into the net for his 20th of the season.

Mike Little's power-play goal got Stockton back to within a goal before the first period expired. Gabriel Levesque had two chances to tie early in the second during a 4-on-4 sequence, but Bryan Hince came up with two big saves to keep Idaho's lead at 2-1. The Steelheads were able to extend the lead three minutes later, at 7:45 of the second, when Chad Nehring pushed a puck up the right-hand wing to Ian Lowe. Lowe skated into the circle before blasting a shot stick-side past Roy, inside the far post, giving Idaho a 3-1 lead.

Idaho's lead would grow to 4-1 early in the third period when Nehring's wrister beat Roy short-side, his 17th of the season, as the Steelheads appeared primed to run away. The Thunder, however, clawed back with two late power-play goals to make it 4-3. Stockton pulled Roy from the net with a minute to play, but Idaho came up with key clears to keep the Thunder from evening up the game.

Hince picked up the victory, stopping 30 of 33 shots. Roy was the loser after allowing four goals on 27 shots. Idaho was 1 of 2 on the power play, while the Thunder scored three power play goals on six opportunities.

Idaho opens the playoffs this week at home. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.

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